Huckabee Addresses Arkansas Delegates To GOP Convention

TAMPA, Fla. — Mike Huckabee gave the Arkansas delegation an early morning taste of what he plans to deliver in primetime Wednesday at the Republican National Convention.

As the winds from Tropical Storm Isaac howled outside Monday morning, Huckabee described to Arkansas delegates the sharp contrast he sees between Republican challenger Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.

It all boils down to who you trust to grow the economy and create jobs.

Huckabee, former Arkansas governor turned political celebrity, said Democrats trust government while Republicans put their faith in entrepreneurs like Sam Walton, John Tyson, Bill Dillard and J.B. Hunt.

The Arkansas Republicans loudly applauded the dig that has become a rallying cry for the Romney campaign since Obama made his “you didn’t build that” comment during a mid-July campaign rally in Virginia.

While Obama was referring to roads, bridges and other public projects on which businesses rely, Republicans have interpreted it as an example of why Obama has failed to deliver the economic recovery he offered as a candidate in 2008.

“Some believe if you just give the government a little more authority and just give them more money that they’ll somehow find a way to make it all work,” Huckabee said.

Huckabee said that approach hasn’t worked and it is time to build an atmosphere where people can afford to take a risk on building their own enterprise.

“We should turn loose people like J.B. Hunt and Bill Dillard and turn loose the John Tysons and the Sam Waltons of the world,” he said. “Just looking at the track record of the entrepreneurs versus those who put all their hopes and stock in government meddling, I go with the entrepreneurs all the time.”

Candace Martin, a spokeswoman for Arkansas Democrats, said in response that the entrepreneurial spirit of Arkansans has made Arkansas a leader in business but that government has also played a role.

Martin noted that Arkansas Republicans now want to cut the AEDC while Democrats value the role the agency plays in recruiting new jobs to the state.

“The difference couldn’t be more clear: Arkansas Democrats want to continue the agenda that enabled us to announce more than 28,000 new jobs in the worst economy since the Great Depression, while Republicans want to reverse course and risk the future of our state,” Martin said.

Huckabee is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention for 15 minutes Wednesday evening just prior to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who goes on at 10 p.m.

The Arkansas Republican delegation, which is staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Ybor District of Tampa, filled the conference room for the Monday breakfast meeting.

Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., and Hector Barretto, Latino Coalition Chairman for the Romney Campaign, also spoke to the delegation.

Huckabee spoke briefly with reporters after the breakfast, telling them they would simply have to “stay tuned” to see if he would freshen up his message for his primetime address.

Huckabee did volunteer that he was amazed and grateful that the Romney team had put no limitations — other than time — on his address. That was not so at previous conventions, he indicated.

“Typically, there is a committee of people that want to look at every word,” Huckabee said.

But, when Huckabee asked the Romney campaign about any parameters, they offered none, saying they trusted him.

“To me it is a great indication of the way they have approached things. They trust people,” he said.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is not speaking at the convention, on Sunday described a very different experience with the Romney campaign. He said he refused to allow his remarks to be reviewed by Romney’s campaign.

Paul, who remains a Republican candidate for president, counts 177 official delegates, and a number of others who back him but are bound to vote for the party’s presumptive nominee.

Republican leaders have taken other steps to mute potential dissent within the convention hall as they seek a smooth show to spotlight Romney for the fall presidential campaign. Paul supporters in delegations including Iowa and Nevada said Sunday they still want to cast ballots for their candidate.

The Republican National Convention canceled its Monday program due to Tropical Storm Isaac. Huckabee had his speech moved to Wednesday evening. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, was also moved from Monday afternoon to today. Griffin will speak for about two minutes.